Mountain Holler

WV Supreme Court Justice Vacations with Coal Baron

January 15th, 2008

Don B. and Judge Spike in the French Riviera.

After a 3-2 decision was handed down by the WV Supreme Court saying that Massey Energy in fact did not have to pay Harman Mining the $76.3 million that a lower court jury decided they did, photos appeared of Massey CEO Don Blankenship and WV Supreme Court Justice Elliot "Spike" Maynard vacationing together in the French Riviera. Yes, amazingly enough, the West Virginia court system is corrupt.

A few years back Blankenship donated millions of dollars to Brent Benjamin's successful campaign to become a WV Supreme Court Justice. Shockingly, both Maynard and Benjamin voted to not make Massey pay Harman. The investment seems to be paying off.

It should also be noted that the main reason that they ruled Massey didn't have to pay was because of a jurisdiction issue. The part where Massey took over $60 million form Harman by way of a breech of contract, putting them out of business, wasn't really an issue.

Those smiles sure look like those pint glasses are empty.

Maynard insists his relationship with Blankenship is not inappropriate and has refused to recuse himself from cases involving the coal baron. The pictures tell a different story. Also, there are 10 more pictures that were not released of the pair with their "female companions."

The sky is blue. The sun is shining. Wish life was as easy in Appalachia as it is in the French Riviera.

Posted by: Matt Noerpel

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